Percussion-fuse for projectiles.



(E. SCHNEIDER.

PERCUSSION FUSE FOR PROIECT|LES.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. II. 1916.

Patented July 10, 1917.

F C HJ Il PERCUSSION-FUSE FOR IPROJECTILES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 10, 1917.

Application filed February 11, 1916. Serial No, 77,712.

a citizen of the Republic of France, residing at Le Creuzot, France, have invented a new and useful Improvement in or Relating to Percussion-Fuses for Projectiles, which is fully set forth in the following specification.

This-invention has for its object to provide an improved percussion fuse of the known type which comprises aV safety stop or locking device (for enabling the fuse to be transported and handled without danger) which is adapted to be rendered inoperative by the action of the centrifugal force set up by the discharge of the projectile, in combination with a spring-pressed ring or sleeve serving at that time to keep the safety stops in their inoperative position, so as to prevent their untimely return into their safety or opera-tive position. A fuse of this type is described in English Patent No. 28306/08 of 28th December 1908, English Patent No. 22287/10 of 26th September 1910, and the certificate of addition No. 4698/11 of 241th February 1911 to the said patent, describe a fuse of the same type comprising an additional spring-pressed ring or sleeve for preventing the safety stops from becoming inoperative during the whole period of accelcration of the projectile.

In all the known fuses of this type, the safety stops are arranged to operate by direct contact with the movable fuse member which it is desired to prevent from moving. The result is that at the moment when centrifugal force commences to move the safety stops apart, a simultaneous motion of the safety stops and of the movable fuse member takes place owing to the contact and friction between those parts. Consequently, the movable fuse member instead of remaining perfectly stationary by reason of its inertia, is liable to be moved prematurely forward and thus injuriously affect the sensitiveness of the fuse.

The present invention has now for its object to avoid that drawback.

For this purpose the movable fuse mem ber and the spring-pressed ring or sleeve which, after the moving apart of the safety stops, prevents their return into their safety or operative position, are constructed in such a manner that the said ring .or sleeve constantly separates the safety stops from the movable fuse member, both in the safety or operative position asV well as in the inoperative position of the stops.

n A constructional form of this invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings applied to a, fuse for use in the nose of a projectile.

In these drawings Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of the improved fuse showing the parts in the positions they occupy before the discharge of the projectile.

Fig. 2 is a similar section showing the parts in the positions they occupy when the projectile has left the gun.

As shown, A is a part of the body of the fuse which forms the mounting for the percussion mechanism, and which comprises in the usual manner a fixed fuse member (for instance the striker B) and a movable fuse member C (carrying the percussion cap D). It is to be understood that the reverse arrangement might be employed, that is to say, the movable fuse member may carry the striker, while the fixed member will then carry the percussion cap.

According to the present invention the safety stops or locking means which consist of segments E, and which are kept in their inner position or close together in the usual manner by a spring c, instead of maintaining the movable fuse member C stationary by direct contact with the longitudinal wall 0f the said member C, act against a springpressed sleeve or ring F--G which lis intended to prevent their untimely return into their operative or safety position.

The ring F which is suitably extended toward the rear, is formed on its outside at its rear end with a cylindrical shoulder f,

the rear end surface f1 of which when at rest, acts to hold back the movable fuse member which for this purpose is provided at its rear with a flange or collar c. The spring Gr of the ring bears at one end against this ring, and at its other end against the movable fuse member C. The segment stops AE are held, in the rest position, between the maintain said locking means in unlocked p0- sition upon release of said sleeve and movement thereof to a position releasing said member.

9. In a percussion mechanism for projectiles, a movable fuse-member, a springpressed sleeve surrounding and normally restraining said member, centriugally-released locking means engaging said sleeve, a second sleeve adapted to engage said locking means during acceleration of the projectile to prevent release of said locking means, and a spring reacting against said second sleeve and adapted to prevent movement thereof when the projectile is not under acceleration.

l0. In a percussion mechanism for projectiles, a stationary member, a movable fusemember provided With a flange, a springpressed sleeve loosely surrounding said fusemember and normally engaging said flange, and centrifugally-released looking means normally engaging said stationary member and said sleeve to prevent movement of said sleeve and fuse-member and means to prevent release of said locking means during acceleration of the projectile.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of tWo subscribing Witnesses. I EUGENE SCHNEIDER. Witnesses:

CHAs. P. PREssLY, EMILE BERTRAND.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing' the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. f 

